In a year with more states than ever passing expansive school choice programs, Florida has regained its top spot. As someone whose life was changed thanks to Florida’s school choice programs, I couldn’t be more excited. I was thrilled to speak at the bill signing this week and share what choice meant to me.

The legislature spoke with a clear voice, with House Bill 1 passing with a vote of 83-27 and Senate Bill 202 passing with a vote of 26-12. While signing the bill, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “We fundamentally believe the money should follow the student.” I couldn’t agree more. Every student deserves to have the chances I did.

Choice programs such as the one Florida signed into law this week changed my path in life. I come from a family of 12 children born to two immigrant parents. Nine of us were able to use Florida’s tax-credit scholarship. This scholarship gave my siblings and me the opportunity to receive a quality education that fit each of us individually.

Because of school choice, I was able to attend a private school that changed the trajectory of my life. In my zoned public school, I was a C student barely passing my classes but still being pushed along to the next grade. My passion for school drained out of me at an early age —I didn’t see the point of it if I wasn’t going to be successful anyway.

I envisioned myself stuck in poverty as my parents had been during my youth because successful academics, for me, seemed to be out of the picture. But because my parents were able to choose a school that revived my passion for learning, I am a successful college graduate, working for the American Federation for Children and seeking to give every child in the country access to a quality education.

I’m not the only success story in the state — or even in my family. We have four college graduates: two engineers and a medical school student. Four children are currently attending university, and the last four are in high school. Our family’s success story is thanks to the chance we received at a young age to attend schools that saw the potential in each one of us and pushed our minds academically.

Now, children of all backgrounds in Florida will have the same opportunities that my siblings and I received.

I’m so proud to have been an advocate during the state’s legislative session and to testify on behalf of this monumental legislation. For more than 20 years, Florida has been leading the way in parental choice in education, offering stellar outcomes to program participants while also improving public schools, and I’m very excited to see us once again joining the front of the pack in a race where all students win.

Hera Varmah is a graduate of Florida’s tax credit scholarship programs and a communications and events assistant at the American Federation for Children.